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Old 15-01-08
Essem Essem is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Tunisia/UK
Posts: 699
Blog Entries: 5
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Hi.
I think we are now talking about two different things here.

If you bring foreign currency into Tunisia and declare it at customs at the airport, for which you pay 1 dinar for the stamp, and receive a declaration form - if you do not spend all of it (I wish!!) you can take it back with you - you have to keep the form.

You can also use this declaration form to open a bank account -it's far cheaper declaring money this way than transferring though the banks - or to put the declared money into your bank account as the banks will not accept undeclared money. I do this all the time.

Foreigners accounts are currency convertible accounts ie money brought into Tunisia in foreign currency and converted in dinars. (Foreigners are not allowed dinar accounts) It is also not possible, once you have taken the money out of your account in dinars to put it back in because it has been converted to dinars and you can only put foreign currency into these accounts.

You can easily transfer money backwards and forwards from your UK account to your Tunisian one but there are bank charges for doing this - a lot more expensive than 1 dinar. I suppose it depends on how often you are travelling backwards and forwards!

When you buy a property you should ask your bank for a 'Fiche D'Investissement' this certificate confirms that you have brought the declared money into your account and it was for purchasing property. If you have this and you then decide to sell you can do so and transfer the money back to the UK. Basically you have to have a paper trail. I have changed banks since I purchased my property but it makes no difference as this certificate is proof of bringing in the declared money and using it for buying property.
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